Cigarette packing machine

ABSTRACT

A machine for packing cigarettes in which packets, having one open end, are made by successively wrapping an inner layer of foil and an outer layer of paper round a former, transferring the open ended packets into a pocket on a conveyor, and then inserting a batch of twenty cigarettes into each packet. A plurality of packet-making devices, and batch-forming devices are provided, the conveyor being so positioned that each pocket first passes all the packet-making devices in succession and then all the batch-forming devices in succession.

United States Patent 1 1 [111 3,91 1,643

Davies Oct. 14, 1975 [54] CIGARETTE PACKING MACHINE 2,821,054 1/1958 Ritcher 53/183 X 3,()57,l26 lO/l962 Chalmers et a1... [75] inventor: Robert William Davies, London, 3,435,940 4/1969 Seragnoli England 3,545,172 12 1970 Osterdahl 53 192 [73] Assignee: Molins Limited, London, England Primary ExaminerR0bert L. Spruill [22] Filed. Jun 1973 Attorney, Agent, or FirmMarkva & Smith [21] Appl. No: 367,054

[ ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application Priority Data A machine for packing cigarettes in which packets,

June 8, 1972 United Kingdom 26900/72 having one end, are made by successively Wrapping an inner layer of foil and an outer layer of paper 52 us. 01. 53/170; 53/183; 53/236; round a former, transferring the Open ended Packets 53/252 into a pocket on a conveyor, and then inserting a 51 Im. c1. B65B 19/12; 8658 19/22 batch of twenty Cigarettes into each P A P [58] Field of Search 53/148, 149, 150, 151, "Y of Packet-making devices, batch-forming 53/17O, 183, 192, 252, 236 vices are provided, the conveyor being so positioned that each pocket first passes all the packet-making de- [56] References Cited vices in succession and then all the batch-forming de- UNITED STATES PATENTS successon 2.810998 10/1957 Niepmann 53/183 12 Claims, 14 Drawing g r US. Patent 0a. 14, 1975 Sheet 1 of5 3,911,643

US. Patent Oct. 14, 1975 Sheet 2 of5 3,911,643

U.S. Patent Oct. 14, 1975 Sheet 3 of5 3,911,643

US. Patent Oct. 14, 1975 Sheet 4 of5 3,911,643

US. Patent Oct. 14, 1975 Sheet 5 of5 3,911,643

CIGARETTE PACKING MACHINE This invention is concerned with packing machines for cigarettes or other articles.

The present invention is particularly, though not exclusively, useful in machines for producing the well known soft pack," that is, a cigarette packet which is made of paper material rather than card.

According to the present invention there is provided a machine for packing articles, for example cigarettes, comprising in combination a plurality of packetmaking devices arranged to make openended packets, a plurality of batch-forming devices arranged to form batches of articles for insertion into packets, a plurality of packet-filling devices, one associated with each batch-forming device, to insert batches into packets, and a single conveyor means to receive open-ended packets from the packet-making devices and to convey them in succession to the packet-filling devices for insertion of batches of articles and thereafter to convey the packets beyond said packet filling devices.

In a preferred form of machine the conveyor means comprises a continuous band provided with tubular carriers in the form of open-ended pockets adapted to receive open-ended packets from said packet making devices. Conveniently said packet-making devices and said packet-filling devices are disposed at intervals along the conveyor means, so that in operation each pocket first passes all the, packet making devices in succession and thereafter passes all the packet-filling devices in succession.

Each of the packet-making devices may comprise at least one packet former, first feeding means for feeding an inner layer of packet material to said former, first folding means associated with said former to wrap said inner layer round said former, second feeding means for feeding an outer layer of packet material to said former and second folding means associated with said former to wrap said outer layer around said former outside said inner layer.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for making packets comprising a plurality of devices each adapted to receive packet blanks in succession and subject each blank in turn to a sequence of folding and sealing operations, in which blank feeding means are provided to feed blanks from a common source to all the said devices, said blank feeding means including conveying means defining paths from said common source to said devices and being adapted to cause blanks to be conveyed along each of said paths in rotation.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a diagrammatic front view of a cigarette packing machine,

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view taken in the direction of arrow A of FIG. 1, and drawn to a larger scale.

FIGS. 3 to 8 show perspective views of successive stages in folding a piece of foil round a former, and

FIGS. 9 to 14 show perspective views of successive stages in folding a label round the same piece of foil and former as in FIGS. 3 to 8.

The machine comprises a cigarette hopper l, of any convenient construction, from which batches of cigarettes are removed and fed into hollow compartments 2 mounted on an intermittently rotatable turret 3, a

batch of cigarettes being fed into a compartment each time the turret 3 comes to rest. In FIG. 1 three further turrets 4, 5 and 6, shown in chain dot lines, are shown, each of which is identical to turret 3 and are rotated in synchronism with it, so that each time the turrets 3 to 6 come to rest four batches of cigarettes are removed from the hopper 1.

With this arrangement, each time the turrets 3 to 6 comes to rest, a compartment 2 containing a batch of cigarettes is positioned at each of the positions marked P1, P2, P3 and P4 in FIG. 1. It should be noted that the cigarettes are moved lengthwise into the compartments 2 from the hopper l.

Positioned adjacent the left hand end of the turrets 3 to 6, as viewed in FIG. 2, is an endless conveyor 7 carried by two pulleys 8, 9, fixed to shafts 8a, 9a respectively, and driven intermittently, in the direction of arrow B, FIG. 1, in synchronism with the turrets 3 to 6. The shaft 8a, and thus also the conveyor 7, is driven by a motor, diagrammatically shown in FIG. 1 at 35, via a gear box of any convenient known type having a continuously rotatable input shaft and an intermittently rotatable output shaft; such a gear box being shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1 at 36. The arrangement is such that the output shaft of the gear box 36 is connected to the shaft 8a.

Mounted on the conveyor 7 are a plurality of hollow pockets 10, each of which is to have an open ended packet inserted therein, as will be described later. A pusher 11 is mounted opposite the right hand end, as viewed in FIG. 2, of each of the turrets 3 to 6 in line with each of the compartments at positions P1 to P4.

The turrets 3 to 6 and conveyer 7 are so arranged and constructed that each time the turrets and the conveyor come to rest, one of the pockets 10 is aligned with one of the compartments 2 at positions P1, P2, P3, P4. The pitch of the pockets 10 on the conveyor 7 and the distance between successive positions P1 to P4 are such that every third pocket 10 is aligned with a compartment 2 each time the turrets 3 to 6 and conveyor 7 come to rest as mentioned above.

The conveyor 7 is driven so that on each intermittent movement the pockets 10 move two pitches and the drive to the turrets is adapted to rotate the turrets one compartment pitch for every two intermittent movements of the conveyor 7. With this arrangement successive batches of cigarettes arriving at each of the positions P1 to P4 are pushed lengthwise by a pusher 11 from a compartment 2 into every fourth pocket 10 on the conveyor 7, so that each pocket 10 beyond position P4, considered in the direction of movement of the conveyor 7 past positions P1 to P4, contains an open ended packet which in turn contains a batch of cigarettes.

Each pusher 11 is operated to remove a batch of cigarettes from one of the compartments 2 at positions P1 to P4 by a cam 37 fixed to a shaft 38 which is driven continuously from the motor 35, FIG. 2. The cam 37 engages a follower 39 carried on a lever 40, one end of which is pivotally connected at 41 to a fixed part of the machine, and the other end of which is connected to an arm 42 which carries the pusher 11. Alternatively the arms 42 may be linked together and a single cam 37, follower 39 and lever 40 provided to operate all the pushers 11.

In some circumstances it may be convenient to have two turrets, e.g. turrets 3, 4 only, from which batches of cigarettes are removed and fed into a pocket on the conveyor 7. However, with this arrangement, the drive to the turrets 3, 4 is adapted to rotate the turrets one compartment pitch for each intermittent movement of the conveyor 7. Thus a batch of cigarettes from each of the turrets 3, 4 is fed into every second pocket 10 on the conveyor 7 and each pocket 10 beyond the position P2, considered in the direction of movement of the conveyor 7 contains an open ended packet which in turn contains a batch of cigarettes.

The making of the open ended packets will now be described.

A continuous web 12 of metal foil is fed from a reel (not shown) by a pair of rollers 13 and cut into pieces of a predetermined length by knives 14, each cut piece of foil being picked up by a suction drum 15. From the drum 15 alternate pieces of foil are fed by suction drums I6, 17, 18 on to one of six platforms 19 carried on an intermittently rotatable wheel 20. Each platform 19 is provided with a table 51 which is movable radially of the wheel 20. The intermediate pieces of foil are fed from drum 15 by suction drum 21 on to one of six plat forms 22 carried on a further intermittently rotatable wheel 23. The wheels 20, 23 are fixed to shafts a, 23a respectively, which are both driven intermittently from the motor 35 via a gear box similar to the gear box 36 and shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1 at 43. The construction and operation of both the wheels 20, 23 are substantially the same so only wheel 20 will be described.

The wheel 20 also carries six packet formers 24 each of which is spaced a short distance from a platform 19. Each former 24 is provided with a pusher 44 slidably mounted therein, as shown in FIG. 2, and carried on one end of an arm 45. The other end of each arm is connected to a lever 46 which is pivotally connected at 47 to a fixed part of the machine. A cam follower 48 mounted on the lever 46 engages a cam 49 fixed to a shaft 50 which is driven continuously by the motor 35. The wheel 20 is so positioned that each time the wheel comes to rest the next successive former 24 is brought to a position P5 in alignment with one of the pockets 10 on the conveyor 7. Whilst the wheel 20 is stationary a piece of foil (which forms an inner layer of packet material) is fed onto that platform 19 associated with the former 24 which is at position P5. The wheel 20 is then rotated through six intermittent movements, which brings the former 24 previously mentioned back into alignment with a pocket 10 on the conveyor 7. The piece of foil is wrapped round the former 24 as will now be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 8. The steps involved in wrapping the foil round the former are substantially the same as those described in US. Pat. No. 3,579,952 issued May th 1971 with reference to FIGS. 18 to 23.

FIG. 3 shows the relative positions of the former 24 which is at position P5, and a piece of foil F which has just been fed on to the associated platform 19. Whilst the wheel 20 is stationary the table 51 is moved radially outwards of the wheel until the foil F engages the former 24. Tuckers 52, 53, 54 are then operated to fold flaps T1, T2, T3 respectively so that the foil is folded as shown in FIG. 4. Flap T2 (FIG. 5) is folded over by tucker 55 and suction is applied through apertures (not shown) in the former 24 to hold the edge of flap T2 against the former, and then tucker 56 folds flap T3 on top of flap T2, the flap T3 also being held against the former 24 by suction, so that the foil is now folded as shown in FIG. 6.

The wheel 20 is now rotated counter clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 1, through so that the former 24 which was at position P5 is moved to position P6. After the wheel comes to rest the flaps T4 are folded, by tuckers 57, on top of flap T1, as shown in FIG. 7, and the folding of the foil round the former 24 is completed by the flap T5 being folded by tucker 58, as shown in FIG. 8. Whilst the wheel 20 is moving the tuckers 52, 53, 54 are moved away from the positions shown in FIG. 4 to 6, and the table 51 is returned to its starting position.

When the wheel 20 comes to rest after its first intermittent movement from position P5 an outer label (which forms an outer layer of packet material) is fed on to the platform 19. A continuous web 25 is fed from a reel (not shown) and cut into separate labels by knives 26. Alternate labels are fed on to a dead plate 27 associated with wheel 20 by a suction drum 28. The intermediate labels are fed by a series of suction drums 29 to 32 on to a dead plate associated with wheel 23.

The label is moved from the dead plate 27 on to the platform 19 by a pair of lugs 33 carried on a conveyor 34, and during this movement adhesive is applied to the label, by any convenient form of apparatus (not shown), along the edge of flap T3 (FIG. 4) which is later folded to overlap the flap T2, as will be described.

The label is wrapped round the former on top of the foil as will now be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 14. The steps involved in wrapping the label round the former are substantially the same as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,579,952 issued May 25th I971 with reference to FIGS. 24 to 29.

FIG. 9 shows the relative positions of the former 24, which is now at position P6, with the piece of foil F wrapped round it, and a label P, shown in chain-dot lines, which has just been fed to the associated platform 19. While the wheel 20 is stationary the table 51 is again moved radially outwards of the wheel until the label P engages the foil F already wrapped round the former 24. Tuckers 53, 54 are again operated, but this time to fold flaps T6, T7 respectively so that the label P is folded as shown in full lines in FIG. 9.

The wheel 20 is now rotated a further 60 in an counter clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1 so that the former 24 being considered is moved to position P7. After the wheel comes to rest flap T6 is folded over by tucker 59 (FIG. 10) and flap T7 is folded over by tucker 60 so that it overlaps and sticks to flap T6. At this stage the label P is folded as shown in FIG. 11. The flaps T8 are then folded, by tuckers 61, as shown in FIG. 12, so that they lie on top of the flap T5 of the foil F.

The wheel 20 is now rotated a further 60 in an counter clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1, so that the former 24 being considered is moved to position P8. After the wheel comes to rest flap T9 is folded over by tucker 62, as shown in FIG. 13, adhesive is ap plied to the flap T10 by any convenient form of apparatus (not shown) and the folding of the label P round the former 24 on top of the foil F is completed by the flap T10 being folded over and stuck to flap T9 by a further operation of the tucker 52, as shown in FIG. 14. After three further 60 stepwise movements of the wheel 20 the former 24 being considered is carried past positions P9, P10 and brought to rest at position P5. Whilst the former is moving from position P to position PS the tuckers 52, 53, 54 are again returned to their starting positions so that a new piece of foil may be fed to the platform 19.

After the wrapping of the label has been completed as described above and the former 24 on which it is carried is again in alignment with a pocket 10 on the conveyor 7 the pusher 44 mounted inside the former 24 is operated to push the now partly formed packet, one end of which is open, off the former and into the aligned pocket 10. At the same time a similar partly formed packet has been formed on wheel 23 and pushed into a pocket 10. The pitch of the formers on the wheels 20, 23 is such that successive formers 24 of each wheel align with every second pocket of the conveyor 7, and the wheels 20, 23 are so spaced along the conveyor 7 that packets from the wheel 23 are pushed into intermediate pockets to those from the wheel 20, so that all pockets l0 downstream of the drum' 23 contain a partly finished packet. I

The packets are then fed past the turrets 3 to 6, as previously described, and when they reach a position downstream of the turret 6 the open end of the packet is closed and a stamp serving to hold that end of the packet closed is applied by any convenient known form of apparatus.

I claim:

1. A machine for packing rod-like articles comprising in combination endless conveyor means having regularly-spaced carrier members thereon; a plurality of packet-making devices arranged to make open-ended packets; a plurality of packet-transferring devices, one associated with each packet-making device, arranged in succession in spaced positions along a first part of said conveyor means, each packet-transferring device being operable to transfer packets from the associated packet-making device into carrier members on said conveyor means; a plurality of batch handling devices arranged to form batches of rod-like articles and convey said batches for insertion into said packets, each batchhandling device comprising a conveyor member having carrier means for receiving a batch of rod-like articles at a loading position and for conveying said batch from said loading position to an unloading position, said batch-handling devices being arranged in succession in spaced positions along a second part of said conveyor means downstream of said first part; and a plurality of packet-filling devices, one associated with each of said batch-handling devices, operable to transfer batches of rod-like articles from the carrier means of the associated batch-handling device at said unloading position into packets carried in said carrier members of said conveyor means.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1 in which said conveyor means comprises a continuous band provided with tubular carrier members in the form of openended pockets adapted to receive open-ended packets from said packet-making devices.

3. A machine as claimed in claim 1 in which each of said packet-making devices comprises at least one packet former, first feeding means for feeding an inner layer of packet material to said former, second feeding means for feeding an outer layer of packet material to said former and folding means associated with said former to wrap said inner layer around said former and said outer layer around said former outside said inner layer.

4. A machine as claimed in claim 3 in which at least one of said first and second feeding means comprises means for advancing a continuous web of packet material, means for cutting a succession of packet blanks from said web, and means for conveying said blanks in succession to said former.

5. A machine as claimed in claim 3 in which each of said packet-making devices includes a rotable wheel, a plurality of formers carried by said wheels, and means for intermittently moving said wheel so that each former is moved in steps to a plurality of positions including first and second transfer positions for said formers, the first and second feeding means being arranged to deliver packet material to each of said formers in succession while said formers are at said first and second transfer positions respectively, said packet-transferring device associated with each packet-making device being arranged adjacent said first transfer position for removing open-ended packets from each former in succession and transferring each packet to the conveyor means.

6. A machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said endless conveyor means has a substantially straight run which includes said second part of said conveyor means whereby batches of rodlike articles are transferred into packets carried in said carrier members of said conveyor means while said carrier members of said conveyor means are on said substantially straight run.

7. A machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein each batch-handling device comprises a conveyor member in the form of a rotatable turret, said turret having a plurality of spaced carrier means in the form of tubular open-ended pockets adapted to receive and convey batches of rod-like articles.

8. A machine for packing rod-like articles comprising in combination an endless band conveyor provided with tubular open-ended pockets adapted to receive packets; a plurality of packet forming devices arranged to make open-ended packets; each packet-forming device including an intermittently rotatable wheel, a plurality of formers carried by said wheel, and first and second feeding means for feeding respectively an inner layer and an outer layer of packet material onto each former in succession; a plurality of packet-transferring devices, one associated with each packet forming device, arranged in succession in spaced positions along a first part of said band conveyor, each packettransferring device being operable to transfer packets from successive formers of the associated packetforming device into said tubular pockets of said band conveyor; a plurality of batch-handling devices arranged to form batches of rod-like articles and to convey said batches for insertion into said packets, each batch-handling device comprising a rotatable turret carrying a plurality of spaced tubular carriers for receiving batches of rod-like articles at a loading position and for conveying said batches from said loading position to an unloading position, said batch-handling devices being arranged in succession in spaced positions along a second part of said band conveyor downstream of said first part, and a plurality of packet-filling devices, one associated with each of said batch-handling devices, operable to transfer batches of rod-like articles from the tubular carriers of the associated batchhandling device at said unloading position into packets carried in said tubular pockets of said band conveyor.

9. A machine as claimed in claim 8 wherein said band conveyor and each of said batch-handling devices are so arranged that said tubular pockets of said band conveyor and said tubular carriers of said batch-handling devices are aligned when said tubular carriers are in said unloading position.

10. A machine for packing rod-like articles comprising in combination a plurality of packet-making devices arranged to make open-ended packets, each device comprising means for receiving packet blanks in succession and means for subjecting each blank in turn to a sequence of folding and sealing operations; blank feeding means for feeding blanks along separate paths from a common source to all said packet-making devices; said blank feeding means being adapted to cause blanks to be conveyed along each of said paths in rotation; a plurality of batch-forming devices arranged to form batches of rod-like articles for insertion into packets; a plurality of packet-filling devices, one associated with each batch-forming device, for inserting batches into packets; a single conveyor means defining a path having a first part which passes adjacent said packetmaking devices and a second part which passes adjacent said packet-filling devices; and a plurality of packet-transferring devices, one associated with each packet-making device, for transferring packets from said packet-making devices to said conveyor means, whereby packets are conveyed by said conveyor means from said first part of said path to said second part of said path to receive batches of rodlike articles from said packet-filling devices.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 in which said blank feeding means comprises means for advancing a continuous web of packet material and means for cut ting a succession of packet blanks from said web.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 in which each of said packet-making devices includes an intermittently rotatable wheel, a plurality of formers carried by said wheel, first feeding means for feeding an inner layer of packet material to each of said formers in succession at a first angular position relative to said wheel, second feeding means for feeding an outer layer of packet material to each of said formers in succession at a second angular position relative to said wheel, and folding means for wrapping said inner layer around said formers and said outer layers around said inner layers on said formers. 

1. A machine for packing rod-like articles comprising in combination endless conveyor means having regularly-spaced carrier members thereon; a plurality of packet-making devices arranged to make open-ended packets; a plurality of packettransferring devices, one associated with each packet-making device, arranged in succession in spaced positions along a first part of said conveyor means, each packet-transferring device being operable to transfer packets from the associated packetmaking device into carrier members on said conveyor means; a plurality of batch handling devices arranged to form batches of rod-like articles and convey said batches for insertion into said packets, each batch-handling device comprising a conveyor member having carrier means for receiving a batch of rod-like articles at a loading position and for conveying said batch from said loading position to an unloading position, said batch-handling devices being arranged in succession in spaced positions along a second part of said conveyor means downstream of said first part; and a plurality of packet-filling devices, one associated with each of said batch-handling devices, operable to transfer batches of rod-like articles from the carrier means of the associated batch-handling device at said unloading position into packets carried in said carrier members of said conveyor means.
 2. A machine as claimed in claim 1 in which said conveyor means comprises a continuous band provided with tubular carrier members in the form of open-ended pockets adapted to receive open-ended packets from said packet-making devices.
 3. A machine as claimed in claim 1 in which each of said packet-making devices comprises at least one packet former, first feeding means for feeding an inner layer of packet material to said former, second feeding means for feeding an outer layer of packet material to said former and folding means associated with said former to wrap said inner layer around said former and said outer layer around said former outside said inner layer.
 4. A machine as claimed in claim 3 in which at least one of said first and second feeding means comprises means for advancing a continuous web of packet material, means for cutting a succession of packet blanks from said web, and means for conveying said blanks in succession to said former.
 5. A machine as claimed in claim 3 in which each of said packet-making devices includes a rotable wheel, a plurality of formers carried by said wheels, and means for intermittently moving said wheel so that each former is moved in steps to a plurality of positions including first and second transfer positions for said formers, the first and second feeding means being arranged to deliver packet material to each of said formers in succession while said formers are at said first and second transfer positions respectively, said packet-transferring device associated with each packet-making device being arranged adjacent said first transfer position for removing open-ended packets from each former in succession and transferring each packet to the conveyor means.
 6. A machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said endless conveyor means has a substantially straight run which includes said second part of said conveyor means whereby batches of rodlike articles are transferred into packets carried in said carrier members of said conveyor means while said carrier members of said conveyor means are on said substantially straight run.
 7. A machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein each batch-handling device comprises a conveyor member in the form of a rotatable turret, said turret having a plurality of spaced carrier means in the form of tubular open-ended pockets adapted to receive and convey batches of rod-like articles.
 8. A machine for packing rod-like articles comprising in combination an endless band conveyor provided with tubular open-ended pockets adapted to receive packets; a plurality of packet forming devices arranged to make open-ended packets; each packet-forming device including an intermittently rotatable wheel, a plurality of formers carried by said wheel, and first and second feeding means for feeding respectively an inner layer and an outer layer of packet material onto each former in succession; a plurality of packet-transferring devices, one associated with each packet forming device, arranged in succession in spaced positions along a first part of said band conveyor, each packet-transferring device being operable to transfer packets from successive formers of the associated packet-forming device into said tubular pockets of said band conveyor; a plurality of batch-handling devices arranged to form batches of rod-like articles and to convey said batches for insertion into said packets, each batch-handling device comprising a rotatable turret carrying a plurality of spaced tubular carriers for receiving batches of rod-like articles at a loading position and for conveying said batches from said loading position to an unloading position, said batch-handling devices being arranged in succession in spaced positions along a second part of said band conveyor downstream of said first part, and a plurality of packet-filling devices, one associated with each of said batch-handling devices, operable to transfer batches of rod-like articles from the tubular carriers of the associated batch-handling device at said unloading position into packets carried in said tubular pockets of said band conveyor.
 9. A machine as claimed in claim 8 wherein said band conveyor and each of said batch-handling devices are so arranged that said tubular pockets of said band conveyor and said tubular carriers of said batch-handling devices are aligned when said tubular carriers are in said unloading position.
 10. A machine for packing rod-like articles comprising in combination a plurality of packet-making devices arranged to make open-ended packets, each device comprising means for receiving packet blanks in succession and means for subjecting each blank in turn to a sequence of folding and sealing operations; blank feeding means for feeding blanks along separate paths from a common source to all said packet-making devices; said blank feeding means being adapted to cause blanks to be conveyed along each of said paths in rotation; a plurality of batch-forming devices arranged to form batches of rod-like articles for insertion into packets; a plurality of packet-filling devices, one associated with each batch-forming device, for inserting batches into packets; a single conveyor means defining a path having a first part which passes adjacent said packet-making devices and a second part which passes adjacent said packet-filling devices; and a plurality of packet-transferring devices, one associated with each packet-making device, for transferring packets from said packet-making devices to said conveyor means, whereby packets are conveyed by said conveyor means from said first part of said path to said second part of said path to receive batches of rodlike articles from said packet-filling devices.
 11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 in which said blank feeding means comprises means for advancing a continuous web of packet material and means for cutting a succession of packet blanks from said web.
 12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 in which each of said packet-making devices includes an intermittently rotatable wheel, a plurality of formers carried by said wheel, first feeding means for feeding an inner layer of packet material to each of said formers in succession at a first angular position relative to said wheel, second feeding Means for feeding an outer layer of packet material to each of said formers in succession at a second angular position relative to said wheel, and folding means for wrapping said inner layer around said formers and said outer layers around said inner layers on said formers. 